21-Day Sri Lanka Nature and Heritage Tour with Safaris and Whale Watching

• Our staff will warmly welcome you at the airport.
• Get picked up and transferred to stay in a luxury hotel close to Colombo.
• In the evening, receive a short briefing for the next day's activities, usually finishing by 5:00 pm.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

• After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Colombo.
• Visit Dutch Hospital, Colombo National Museum, Zoo Dehiwala, and Gangaramaya Temple.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay in Colombo.

Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, the Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, with 752,993 in the city proper. It is the financial center of the island and a tourist destination. Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, commonly known as Kotte, is the official administrative capital of Sri Lanka. Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is a satellite city.

• Early in the morning at 6:30 am, after breakfast, transfer south along the beachside.
• En route, visit the Turtle Farm in Ahungalla.
• Visit Balapitiya and enjoy the Madu Ganga river safari.
• Visit the Mask Factory in Ambalangoda and the moonstone mine at Meetiyagoda.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.
• Relax at the hotel.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Balapitiya.

Ahungalla Turtle is the most commonly found turtle in Sri Lanka. They are also found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. Their English name refers to the colour of the fat found under their shells, which unfortunately was used to make turtle soup. Luckily, this practice is less common today. Young Green Turtles are mainly carnivores. Adults, however, are herbivores, feeding only on marine vegetation with the help of their finely serrated jaws. They grow to a maximum length of 1 m and can weigh 250 kg. Adult females lay between 120 and 140 eggs at one time. Green Turtles are regularly found on the beach at night close to the KSTCP. They tend to nest only every few years, but when they do, they lay several times in one season.

Madu Ganga is the second biggest wetland in Sri Lanka. The estuary spreads over 900 hectares, of which 770 hectares are covered with water, and it is inhabited by 64 islands, of which 15 have a larger landmass. Abundantly rich in biodiversity, the area surrounding the Madu River is filled with swampy marshlands covered in mangrove forests. It is also home to 300 species of plants and about 250 wildlife species.

Ambalangoda mask making is a popular tradition in Sri Lanka. Many Sri Lankan mask artisans ply their trade along the western, southwestern, and southern coasts of the island. Of these, the Ambalangoda area on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka is renowned for its talented artisans. Ambalangoda is famed for its history, expertise in mask carving, and culture. The best place to get your fill of mask lore is the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum in Sri Lanka.

Meetiyagoda, also spelt Mitiyagoda, is situated only 4 km from the ocean and 10 km north of Hikkaduwa. Meetiyagoda is famous for its moonstone mines. Moonstone has been used in jewellery for millennia, including by ancient civilizations. The Romans admired moonstone, as they believed it was derived from solidified rays of the moon. Both the Romans and Greeks associated moonstone with their lunar deities. In more recent history, moonstone became popular during the Art Nouveau period; French goldsmith Rene Lalique and many others created a large quantity of jewellery using this stone.

• Leave Balapitiya at 7:00 am for Unawatuna after breakfast.
• En route, visit Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Watch the stilt fishermen, who make the activity seem easy and comfortable.
• Visit the Walla Devalaya in Unawatuna.
• Return to the hotel.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Unawatuna.

Early morning travel to the Dutch Fort: the Portuguese built the first fort to withstand attacks from the Sri Lankan kingdoms to the north. The Dutch entrance to the fort, with its VOC and 1669 carving in the inner archway, is still in use.

Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological, and architectural heritage monument which, even after more than 432 years, maintains a polished appearance due to extensive reconstruction work done by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by UNESCO, and the site has been inscribed as a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site under criterion iv for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries".

Unawatuna, a lovers' paradise, is known for its lovely beach and activities. Unawatuna is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Sri Lanka and is the most "famous" beach in the country. It is a lovely banana-shaped beach of golden sand and turquoise water, surrounded by green palm trees. Its beach and corals are well known. Unawatuna is rich in biodiversity. Its greatest potential attraction for eco-tourism was the marshland or mangrove, Kadolana, which was partially dredged and filled to develop a hotel for a German hotel chain. The development never eventuated. Many locals believe it to have been cursed for being built at the doorstep of the Wella Devalaya.

Weligama beach is famous for its stilt fishermen. In chest-deep water on the beach, just a few meters offshore, are the stilt fishermen perched one by one on a crossbar of a single pole planted into the seabed. These fishermen, the poorest of the poor, spend hours with their lines cast out to sea to catch small fish. Stilt fishing is one of the most interesting traditional fishing methods of Sri Lanka. Records indicate that it came into being just after World War II. This mode of fishing was more widely used all along the coast until the tsunami in 2004, which caused such activities to cease temporarily until recent years. The beautiful sight of fishermen perched on branched poles as they fish skillfully during dawn, noon, and dusk can now commonly be seen along the southern coast in towns such as Koggala, Kaththaluwa, and Ahangama. Occasional stilt fishermen can also be seen amongst the waters of Madu River. Though stilt fishermen make the activity seem easy and comfortable, stilt fishing requires much skill and balance.

Mirissa is a destination famed for some of the finest whale and dolphin sightings in the world. Take an exciting yet comfortable boat trip out to sea and be fortunate to see Blue Whales, the largest creatures on earth, Bryde's Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales, and Fin Whales. Sometimes you can also meet pods of friendly dolphins such as Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and striped dolphins as they playfully somersault and dance on the ocean waves. There's also a good chance of seeing flying fish, turtles, manta rays, and even sharks. Whale watching is between November and April each year, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

• Leave Unawatuna at 5:30 am for Mirissa for whale watching. Mirissa is a destination famed for some of the finest whale and dolphin sightings in the world.
• Take an exciting yet comfortable boat trip out to sea and be fortunate to see Blue Whales, the largest creatures on earth, Bryde's Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales, and Fin Whales.
• Sometimes you can also meet pods of friendly dolphins such as Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and striped dolphins as they playfully somersault and dance on the ocean waves. There's also a good chance of seeing flying fish, turtles, manta rays, and even sharks. Whale watching happens between November and April each year. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, followed by time on the beach in Mirissa in the afternoon.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay in a hotel in Unawatuna.

• Travel early in the morning at 5:00 am to Yala National Park.
• Enter the park for a full-day game drive.
• Return to the hotel.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Yala National Park is a huge area of forest, grassland, and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean in southeast Sri Lanka. It is home to wildlife such as leopards, elephants, and crocodiles, as well as hundreds of bird species. Yala National Park's most popular animal is the leopard, and they are the lords of the jungle. With a leopard density higher than anywhere else on this planet, these menacing predators prowl majestically in Yala, while elephants roam in numbers with cautious deer scampering by their side. Inland, Yala National Park gives the best opportunity to witness Sri Lanka's broad variety of wildlife: colourfully painted storks are seen perched at the shores of the lagoon where crocodiles too have chosen to doze off; lovely fan-tailed peacocks in their resplendent blues and greens parade about amidst the woods where monkeys hang, leap, and chatter; in the bush jungle are the elephants; crossing the tracks and wandering off into the thorny scrub jungle is the star attraction of the park, the leopard.

A total of 32 species of mammals have been recorded. The threatened species include sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), elephant (Elephas maximus), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa), spotted deer (Axis axis ceylonessis), sambar (Cervus unicolour), and golden jackal (Canis aureus). Sri Lankan leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) are said to be a distinct subspecies from their Indian neighbours. Leopards can be seen throughout the park, though the best period for enjoying sightings of leopards is from January to July.

Birds: around 130 species have been recorded. Raptors include crested serpent eagle and white-bellied sea eagle. Among the water birds attracted to the lagoons are Lesser Flamingo, Pelican, Spoonbill, painted stork, rare black-necked stork, grey heron, purple heron, night heron, and darter.

During the northeast monsoon, the lagoons are visited by thousands of migrating waterfowl, including Pintail, Garganey, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, and turnstone, which mix with residents such as whistling duck, Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Red Wattled Lapwing, and Great Stone Plover. The forest is home to Orange Breasted Green Pigeon, hornbills, and flycatchers, including Asian Paradise Flycatcher, barbets, and orioles. Reptiles include the Mugger Crocodile, which is abundant in the abandoned tanks, the Estuarine Crocodile found in the main rivers, and the Common monitor. Other reptiles include cobra and Russel's Viper. A variety of sea turtles, including Olive Ridley and Leatherback, use the Yala coastline as a major nesting ground.

• Leave Tissamaharam for Ella at 6:00 am after breakfast.
• Visit the Ella Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Gap, Raven Waterfall, and Little Adam's Peak. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka.
• Undergo a Flying Raven adventure experience.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at an Ella hotel.

Ella is a small town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately 200 kilometres east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 metres above sea level. The area has a rich biodiversity and is dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. Due to its elevation, the town has a cooler climate than the surrounding lowlands.

• Transfer from Ella to Nuwara Eliya at 7:00 am.
• En route, visit Hakgala Botanical Garden, Seetha Amman Temple, a colourful Hindu shrine, Lake Gregory, and waterfalls such as Lovers Leap.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a Nuwara Eliya hotel.

Nuwara Eliya was founded by Samuel Baker, the explorer of Lake Albert and the upper Nile, in 1846. Nuwara Eliya's climate lent itself to becoming the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Nuwara Eliya, called Little England, was a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse themselves in pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf, and cricket, along with enjoying the best Ceylon tea from the Central Hills Country of Sri Lanka. The naturally landscaped town's attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory.

An attractive and well-used oasis, Hakgala Botanical Gardens displays roses and tree ferns and shelters monkeys and blue magpies. Nearby Seetha Amman Temple, a colourful Hindu shrine, is decorated with religious figures. Densely forested Galway's Land National Park is a sanctuary for endemic and migratory bird species, including bulbuls and flycatchers, and is also a visited tourist attraction place at World's End from Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya has beautiful waterfalls such as Lovers Leap, Baker's Falls, St. Clair's Falls, Devon Falls, and Ramboda Falls. Enjoy Little England of Nuwara Eliya.

• 5:00 am: Leave for Horton Plains.
• En route, visit Ambewela Farm and waterfalls such as Devon Falls and St. Clair's Falls.
• Visit Mount Kirigalpotta Kanda, Mount Thotupola Kanda, and Baker's Falls.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Horton Plains was discovered by the planter Thomas Farr in the early 19th century. In 1834, it was named Horton Plains in honour of Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, then Governor of Ceylon from 1831 to 1837. In 1969, Horton Plains was declared a nature reserve. In 1988, the reserve was elevated to the status of a National Park. The gently rolling plateau of Horton Plains, at the southern end of the central montane massif of Sri Lanka, is interspersed with a network of streams and channels. The montane forest is also the source of three major rivers of Sri Lanka: the Mahaweli, the longest river of Sri Lanka, the Walave, and the Kelani. Horton Plains is bounded by the country's second and third highest mountain peaks: Mount Kirigalpotta Kanda (2389 m) and Mount Thotupola Kanda (2357 m).

The escarpment with a depth of 900 meters called World's End and Baker's Falls is one of the highlights of Horton Plains. Horton Plains in Sri Lanka is the coldest and windiest location in the country. It consists of ecosystems such as montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands, and aquatic ecosystems. At an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, Horton Plains spreads across over 3,169 hectares of the highest tableland of the island. In view of a large number of endemic flora and fauna species, Horton Plains was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 30 July 2010. Horton Plains, its surrounding forests, and the adjoining Peak Wilderness constitute Sri Lanka's most important catchment area for almost all major rivers. The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty and conservation importance, containing most of the habitats and endemic plants and animals representative of the country's wet and montane zones. The western slopes support the most extensive area of montane cloud forest surviving on the island.

Horton Plains is not merely a destination for nature tourists. Since the rich biodiversity of Horton Plains is still grossly underexplored, it affords invaluable opportunities to those engaged in educational and research activities. Protecting Horton Plains is a call of duty for all Sri Lankans.

• Leave Nuwara Eliya at 6:30 am.
• Arrive in the city of Kandy, set on a plateau surrounded by mountains that are home to tea plantations and biodiversity rainforest.
• Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and scenic Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake).
• Enjoy a Kandyan dance show and city tour. Also, go to a gem shop.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay in Kandy.

This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings, whose patronage enabled Sinhala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the sacred tooth of the Buddha, which is a famous pilgrimage site.

Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka. It is set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and biodiversity rainforest. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake), which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine, celebrated with the grand Esala Perahera annual procession. It is one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Historically, the local Buddhist rulers resisted Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial expansion and occupation.

• Visit the Botanical Garden with more than 500 spice plants.
• Afterwards, visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
• Go to a spice garden.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden in London, and it encompasses a total area of 147 acres. Though the groundwork for the current gardens was laid in 1821 by Alexander Moon, the origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371, when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near the Mahaweli River. It was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844, after which it was controlled by a few superintendents until it was taken under the control of the Department of Agriculture in 1912. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya was also used as the Southeast Asian Headquarters of the Allied Forces during the Second World War.

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya was listed among the "10 great botanical gardens around the world" published by The Guardian in 2018. Big pergolas and wire arches are covered with glamorous climber plants with hard-to-pronounce names like Beaumontia and Saritaea, intertwined with the beautiful lilac-blue Petraea, which are said to have grown more beautifully than in the Kew Gardens themselves. A small and neat orchid house built inside the Royal Botanical Gardens exhibits some of the best orchid species, and the entrance is decorated with beds of red Salvia coccinea and scarlet poinsettias, with the main Broad Walk created with fine evergreen trees, underneath which there are beds of the pretty "Prickly Bush" and "Blue Sky" flora. The National Herbarium of Sri Lanka, the leading institute for authentication of plants in Sri Lanka, is also located inside the Peradeniya Gardens.

The key duties of this institute are to explore plants, identify them, prepare specimens, document them, and revise the floral wealth of Sri Lanka. The gardens also consist of a few historically prominent trees, such as a massive Ceylon Ironwood tree planted by Nicholas II in 1894, a tea plant from China (1824) considered the first-ever noncommercial tea plant in Sri Lanka, a big Amherstia planted by Prince Albert of Belgium, a camphor tree planted by Sri Lanka's first female prime minister, Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, in 1972, a Baikea insignis planted by the High Pontiff of the Muslim Dawoodi Bohra Community, Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA), in 1941, a Yellow Trumpet tree planted by Crown Prince Akihito of Japan and his Crown Princess in 1981, and the Sorrowless tree planted by Queen Elizabeth in 1981.

Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya is the oldest formal garden in Sri Lanka. It is located 460 meters above mean sea level, about 5 km west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya attracts approximately 2 million local and foreign visitors annually. The garden includes more than 4,000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees, and is renowned for its collection of orchids and long, palm-framed pathways. It is managed by the Division of National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture and the National Herbarium of Sri Lanka.

• Leave the hotel in Kandy at 6:00 am. Polonnaruwa is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The Kaduruwela area is the Polonnaruwa New Town, while the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
• Visit the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, a royal ancient city and World Heritage Site.
• Afterwards, visit Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya (rock temple), Vatadage, and Hetadage.
• Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Minneriya National Park.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Polonnaruwa has a great history. Vijayabahu I (1055-1110) recaptured the whole island and established Polonnaruwa as the new capital. King Vijayabahu married a second queen from the Kalinga (Orissa) royal family and had a son, Vikramabahu I, and a daughter, Ratnavali. His sister, Mitta, married a Pandya prince who had three sons. His eldest son, Manabharana, married Ratnavali. Their son was Parakramabahu I (1153-1186), grandson of Vijayabahu I, a prince of Sinhalese-Pandyan-Kalinga descent, son of Manabharana and Vijayabahu's sister, Mitta. He was a very powerful king noted for his engineering, naval power, art, culture, Sinhala inscriptions, and even a Tamil edict in Uruthota (Kayts). The Chulavamsa was written by Dharmakirthi, updating the Mahavamsa to include Parakramabahu.

• Transfer from the airport to the Sigiriya hotel.
• Arrive at a beachside hotel.
• Sigiriya Rock is one of the most popular and famous tourist attractions in Sri Lanka; climb to the top of the rock.
• Enjoy a lunch break on your own.
• Get a village experience in Hiriwaduna with a bull cart ride, drive, and kayaks to use on the lakes in and around the hena. Enjoy nature trails, a mud house surrounded by great trails, and traditional Sri Lankan cuisine style.
• Next, climb Pidurangala, a more challenging climb than Sigiriya.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Habarana.

The history of Sigiriya is a long story. The rock came into being as a result of a rivalry between two brothers. The great rock fortress, Sigiriya, was built by King Kashyapa. King Kashyapa made this great place to protect himself from his brother King Mogallana. The Sigiriya rock is entwined with a tragic event. The heir to the throne had been King Mogallana, but King Kashyapa had taken power by force. King Kashyapa was afraid that his brother would come back again to take back his right to the throne. Therefore, to protect himself, he built this rock fortress. He did not want any invasion by his brother. The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres high. The technology used in creating the fort is excellent. However, Moggallana was able to defeat Kashyapa, and after that, the rock fortress was destroyed. Earlier it had been a Buddhist monastery, and after the palace was destroyed, it became a Buddhist monastery once again. Sigiriya was later discovered in 1831 by Europeans. A major of the British army, Jonathan Forbes, discovered Sigiriya on his way from Polonnaruwa. Many historians and archaeologists started excavating this rock fortress, and it is through these excavations that all the glory of the rock was discovered. Sigiriya, also known as the Lion's Rock, is a rock fortress and palace located in the Matale District of Sri Lanka.

Pidurangala is an enormous rock located a few kilometres north of Sigiriya. The two rocks have an interlinked history: while King Kasyapa was building Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the 5th century, he moved monks living around Sigiriya to a new monastery on Pidurangala Rock. An ancient cave temple still houses objects from various vintages that reflect Buddhist, Hindu, and western beliefs, and the stupa to the left of the temple entrance is believed to mark the spot where King Kasyapa was cremated. Pidurangala is a more challenging climb than Sigiriya, with glorious vistas of the surrounding landscape and an incredible view of the majestic Sigiriya Rock.

• After breakfast, leave at 6:30 am for Dambulla.
• Visit the cave temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, a World Heritage Site.
• Visit Kandalama Lake.
• Afterwards, return to the hotel.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Habarana.

Dambulla is a sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries. This cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest and best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings, covering an area of 2,100 m2, are of particular importance. The temple has five caves and 157 statues of the Lord Buddha, along with many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasize the artistic talent of ancient days. The history of the caves, rock, and temple dates from the 1st century BC. The fascination of these caves is not only the statues but also the many intricate and delicate paintings that cover the ceiling and walls, created with indigenous traditional paints. Because of its historical, archaeological, and artistic significance, the premises were declared one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1991. Situated in the central part of the country, the temple has been in use for over 22 centuries and still holds a sense of benevolence and spirituality. Visitors may climb the steps to the temple, and the view from the top of the rock is as inspiring as the temple's golden interior.

• Leave the hotel at 6:30 am in the morning, after breakfast.
• Visit the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens. The Sacred Bodhi tree is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.
• See the eight great places of veneration in Anuradhapura: Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa, Lankarama, and Kutam Pokuna.
• Return to the hotel.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Anuradhapura.

It is the capital city of North Central Province, Sri Lanka, and the capital of Anuradhapura District. The historic city of Anuradhapura is an essential stop on any tour of Sri Lanka. Located around 205 km north of Colombo, it is one of eight World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Anuradhapura is revered as one of the greatest monastic sites on this planet. It currently serves as the capital city of the North Central Province and is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Its vast network of ancient Buddhist temples, monasteries, and places of worship, covering over 40 sq km, has made it a sacred site to Buddhists around the world. Sri Lanka's historical chronicle, the Mahavamsa, records that Anuradhapura first became the capital of ancient Lanka in the 4th century BC during the reign of King Pandukhabaya. The king is credited with designing the city and developing a core town and surrounding suburbs based on a highly complex plan. Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sinhala civilization. It was the third capital of the kingdom of Rajarata, following the kingdoms of Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara.

Anuradhapura came into prominence after Buddhism was introduced to the island in the 3rd century BC during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. He built the country's first stupa here, the Thuparama, which is said to house a relic of the Buddha, his right collarbone. King Tissa also arranged for the planting of the sacred Bo sapling brought to the country by Princess Sangamitta, daughter of Emperor Asoka of India. This is today the venerated Sri Maha Bodhi, considered the oldest living tree in the world. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India, under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment.

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, is the oldest living tree in the documented history of the world. It is a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. It was brought from Buddhagaya, India, by Ven. Sanghamitta Therini, sister of Arhant Mahinda, who introduced the teachings of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. The area around the Sri Maha Bodhi, the Brazen Palace, and Ruwanweliseya Dagoba was once probably part of the Great Temple. The Sacred Bodhi tree is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world, and it has been tended by a continuous succession of guardians for over 2,000 years, even during periods of Indian occupation. These are the Eight Great Places of Veneration in Anuradhapura - Atamasthana.

• Transfer to Trincomalee after breakfast, leaving from Anuradhapura.
• Visit Koneswaram Temple and one of the world's finest natural harbours in Trincomalee.
• Go to the Kanniya hot water springs, Trincomalee War Cemetery, Lover's Leap Point, and Rawana Bay.
• Visit Fort Frederick.
• Return to the hotel.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Nilaveli Trincomalee, or Trinco, sits on one of the world's finest natural harbours. This historic city is old almost beyond reckoning and is possibly the site of historic Gokana in the Mahavamsa. Trincomalee is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. Set on a peninsula, Fort Frederick was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century. Within its grounds, the grand Koneswaram Temple stands on Swami Rock cliff, a popular vantage point for blue-whale watching. The holy complex contains ornate shrines and a massive statue of Shiva. Nearby Gokanna Temple has a panoramic view of the city and the coastline. Trincomalee is a great little town on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It offers beautiful white sand and has one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka.

Koneswaram Temple of Trincomalee is a classical-medieval Hindu temple complex in Trincomalee and a Hindu religious pilgrimage center in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the most sacred of the Pancha Ishwarams of Sri Lanka.

• Transfer to Nilaveli Beach and GoldiSand Long Beach.
• Enjoy Pigeon Island National Park, one of the two marine national parks.
• Visit Velgam Vehera Temple.
• Return to the hotel.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at a beach hotel in Nilaveli.

Nilaveli is a coastal resort town and suburb of the Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka, located 16 km northwest of the city of Trincomalee. A historically popular Tamil village and tourist destination of the district alongside nearby Uppuveli, visitor numbers declined following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the Sri Lankan Civil War, but have risen again since 2010. Pigeon Island National Park, one of the two marine national parks of the region, is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli. Its many species of vegetation, coral, and reef fish contribute to Nilaveli's rich biodiversity. Most people just pass through the city on their way to the nearby beaches of Uppuveli and Nilaveli, but the town has some charm, plenty of history, and an interesting melange of people.

• Arrive at the hotel in Anuradhapura to stay and relax.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

• Transfer early in the morning at 5:00 am, leaving Anuradhapura for Wilpattu National Park.
• Enter the park for a full-day game drive.
• Have a lunch break inside the park and eat Sri Lankan-style food such as rice, curry, and fruits.
• After the break, enjoy an afternoon game drive.
• Arrive at the Negombo hotel.
• In the evening, discuss the next day's plan of activities with the tour guide.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

The unique feature of this park is the existence of "villus" - natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. Located in the northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka, Wilpattu Sanctuary was declared a National Park in 1938. Wilpattu National Park is located on the west coast close to the historical city of Anuradhapura. The dry-zone jungle is thickly grown. Wilpattu National Park is home to many villi, or natural lakes, which dot the landscape. Except for two, these lakes contain rainwater and are therefore important for resident and migratory water birds. The history of the park is also of interest, with ancient ruins having been discovered in Wilpattu National Park. A queen named "Kuweni," considered to be the mother of the Sinhala race, is said to have lived in the place known as Kalli Villu. Historical evidence also shows that Prince Saliya, son of King Dutugemunu, lived in Wilpattu over 2,000 years ago. There are approximately 30 species of mammals in Wilpattu National Park, including the Sri Lankan Elephant, Sri Lankan Leopard, Lankan Sloth Bear, spotted deer, buffalo, sambar, and mongoose.

Reptiles and amphibians in the park include Monitor Lizard, Mugger Crocodile, Common Cobra, Rat Snake, Indian Python, Pond Turtle, and the Soft Shelled Turtle.

Birdlife in Wilpattu Park includes wetland bird species such as Garganey, Pintail, Whistling Teal, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Large White Egret, Cattle Egret, and Purple Heron. Many species of gulls, terns, owls, kites, and eagles also live here, along with the endemic Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Little Cormorant, and Painted Stork. The annual temperature in Wilpattu National Park is between 27°C and 30°C, and its annual rainfall is approximately 900 mm.

• Early in the morning, leave to visit the Anawilundawa Ramzan wetland.
• Return and stay there in the afternoon.
• Enjoy the beach in Negombo.
• Explore the city of Negombo and shop.

Overnight stay in the hotel.

Sri Lanka is rich in nature, with a number of sanctuaries and national parks. Negombo is a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka, north of the capital, Colombo. Near the waterfront, the remains of the 17th-century Dutch Fort now house a prison. Negombo Lagoon, lined with fishermen's huts, feeds into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal. The canal leads south to Colombo. Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country and the administrative center of Negombo. It is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries-old fishing industry. Negombo has a large bilingual population dominated by Roman Catholics. The majority settled in the coastal belt speaks the Tamil language as well, though most are Sinhala by ethnicity. The Sinhala name Migamuva means "Village of the honeycomb," gaining its name from a legend mentioned in Rajaveliya. The army of King Kavantissa found bee honey in a canoe near the seashore for Viharamahadevi, who was pregnant with Prince Dutugamunu. Because of this, the place was named Mee-Gomuwa. "Negombo" is the Portuguese-corrupted form of its Tamil name, Neerkolombu. Neoclassical St. Mary's Church, completed in the 1920s, features a ceiling decorated with vivid religious paintings.

Visit Anawilundawa Ramzan wetland. Sri Lanka is rich in nature, with a number of sanctuaries and national parks protecting the wildlife that inhabits the many varied ecosystems here. Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is one of the more obscure sanctuaries and lies on the coastal belt between Negombo and Puttalam. The Anawilundawa Wetlands are a bird watcher's haven, with over 150 species of birds, both resident and migratory. Resident and endemic bird species can be seen throughout the year, while the period from October to April is the best time for getting a glimpse of many rare migratory birds. Anawilundawa is also the nesting site for many exotic birds, including some of the rarer species of cormorants, egrets, storks, and ibis, along with the pheasant-tailed jacana and the purple swamphen.

There are also over 20 species of mammals, including the Toque Macaque monkey, five threatened species of Slender Loris, Rusty Spotted Cat, Fishing Cat, and the Indian Otter. Over 70 species of butterflies breed here, while over 50% of the country's freshwater fish species are found in these waters. Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary is especially good for bird watching, hiking, and boat rides, and is fast growing into one of Sri Lanka's most important eco-tourism attractions.

• Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

Thanks for staying with us.

End of tour.